Doyle Lee Tackett (August 23, 1923 – September 7, 2002) was an American football halfback, wingback, and blocking back. He played for the Navy's Fleet City Bluejackets football teams in

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in Nor ...

and

1945 1945 marked the end of World War II and the fall of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. It is also the only year in which nuclear weapons have been used in combat. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. Januar ...

and for the

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...

from 1946 to 1948.

Early years

Tackett was born in Hector, Arkansas, in 1923 and attended Atkins High School in Atkins, Arkansas. He received all-state honors while playing football at Atkins High School in 1942. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, pitching for the baseball team, playing guard for the basketball team, and setting a rreocrd in the discus throw.

Fleet City

Before Tackett was able to play college football, the United States entered World War II, and Tackett joined the Navy. He served in the Navy from June 1943 until February 1946. In 1944 and 1945, he starred at the halfback and fullback positions on the Navy's Fleet City Bluejackets football team in San Francisco. The undefeated

1945 Fleet City Bluejackets football team The 1945 Fleet City Bluejackets football team represented the United States Navy distribution center at Camp Shoemaker, near Dublin, California, during the 1945 college football season. Led by first-year head coach, Lt. Cmdr. William Reinhart, t ...

featured an all-star lineup that included Tackett, Bruiser Kinard,

Bill Daddio Louis William Daddio (April 26, 1916 – July 5, 1989) was an American football player, coach, and scout. He was an All-American at end at the University of Pittsburgh and played with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) ...

, Charlie O'Rourke,

Steve Juzwik Stephen Robert Juzwik (June 18, 1918 – June 5, 1964) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins. He also played in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Buffalo Bisons ...

, Lou Zontini, and

John Badaczewski John Walter "Baddie" Badaczewski (January 27, 1922 – December 12, 1999) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Boston Yanks, Chicago Cardinals, Washington Redskins, and the Chicago Bears. He pla ...

, and was considered to be as good as the

1945 Army Cadets football team The 1945 Army Cadets football team was an American football powerhouse that represented the United States Military Academy as an independent and considered to be among the greatest in collegiate history. In their fifth season under head coach E ...

Brooklyn Dodgers

Tackett drew attention from professional scouts while playing for Fleet City and received offers from several professional teams, ultimately accepting an offer from the

of the

All-America Football Conference The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the ...

. He played three seasons for the Dodgers from 1946 to 1948. He began as a blocking back, but was switched to wingback in November 1946. He scored his first professional touchdown on November 10, 1946, on a 40-yard reception from Glenn Dobbs. Dobbs and Tackett connected for a second touchdown one week later on November 17, 1946. Tackett appeared in a total of 27 games, five of them as a starter, and caught 10 passes 216 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded two interceptions while playing on defense.

Later years

After his football career ended, Tackett returned to Arkansas and worked as a farmer. He was married in 1946 to Margaret Helen Carter. He died in 2002 in Atkins, Arkansas.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tackett, Doyle 1923 births 2002 deaths American football halfbacks Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFC) players Players of American football from Arkansas United States Navy personnel of World War II